Military Prosecutor Doberman (Review)
(군검사 도베르만; aired on tvN from February 28 to April 26, 2022; released on Netflix in April 2024)
I haven’t watched Military Prosecutor Doberman when it was airing on tvN in 2022, so I was positively surprised when Netflix recently released that series on their service. It stars two of very popular K-Drama stars:
I missed Military Prosecutor Doberman when it aired on tvN in 2022, so I was happy when Netflix added that series recently. It features two of the popular K-Drama stars: Ahn Bo-hyun (recently from Flex X Cop), and Jo Bo-ah (recently starring in Destined with You).
While the series is framed is a legal comedy, it tackles a very serious topic: the corruption and abuse in the South Korean military. Ahn Bo-hyun plays captain Do Bae-man, also called ‘Doberman’, a corrupted military prosecutor. But when he encounters a new military prosecutor Cha Woo-in (Jo Bo-ah), he starts to reform himself. They work together to pursue the toughest cases and criminals in the military.
The series doesn’t shy away from extreme violence while picturing issues like abuse and power tripping within the military, hazing and bullying, etc. Therefore, while the series typically for K-Dramas is often comedic in nature, viewers might be put off by seriousness of the issues portrayed and sometimes jarring juxtaposition of these themes together. The show, for example, starts with a case of gang rape, it cannot be more serious than that.
The series does not shy away from depicting extreme violence, addressing issues like abuse, power tripping within the military, hazing, and bullying. The series typically for K-Dramas is often comedic in nature, which presents a stark contrast with the seriousness of the issues it portrays. This sometimes jarring juxtaposition may be unsettling for viewers. For example, the show starts with a case of gang rape, it cannot be more serious than that.
In typical K-Drama fashion, Do Bae-man and Cha Woo-in have their own demons from the past, setting the stage for a revenge narrative aimed at those culpable for their respective parents’ demise. The series initially presents Major General Noh Hwa-young (Oh Yeon-soo) as the antagonist, yet she soon emerges as merely one facet of a larger scheme. She belongs to the influential ‘Patriotic Society,’ a group intent on dominating the military sector and its industrial ties. As the narrative unfolds, we delve into the identities of the Patriotic Society’s members and the egregious acts they perpetrate to maintain their grip on power.
Among the key figures is Yong Moon-goo (Kim Young-min, recently seen in Queen of Tears), a corrupt lawyer and the chief advisor to Noh Hwa-young. He initially works closely with Do Bae-man. Another pivotal character is Noh Tae-nam, played by Kim Woo-suk, Noh Hwa-young’s son, who is implicated early on in the aforementioned sexual assault case. His character undergoes a redemption arc that, in my view, strains credulity and raises questions about its justification, marking it as one of the plot’s significant shortcomings.
In general, this series should be considered on a similar level to many K-Dramas that criticize the chaebol system in Korea. Military Prosecutor Doberman, on the other hand, offers a harsh critique of the military. I am not very familiar with the South Korean military, so I cannot say how realistic the portrayal of this institution is. South Korea is in a state of perpetual armistice with North Korea, which makes the military a crucial organization for their security. Therefore, focusing on the critique of the military is a bold choice, and certainly a controversial one.
Among the many legal K-Dramas (with Divorce Attorney Shin and Extraordinary Attorney Woo being some of the most recent), Military Prosecutor Doberman is the only one that deals with military courts. The series carefully guides viewers through the differences between military and civil courts and emphasizes issues such as the military rank system, which hinders the justice system within the military. In general, this aspect alone makes for interesting viewing, since it is relatively new to the K-Drama genre.
Both leads deserve praise for their performances: Ahn Bo-hyun introduces a lot of humor into the series, while Jo Bo-ah infuses the show with swagger. There is only a hint of romance between the leads, which is barely developed throughout the series, making this show less suited for romcom fans.
In general, Military Prosecutor Doberman is an exciting, albeit somewhat controversial, show that stands out among other legal K-Dramas. If one is not deterred by portrayals of violence and abuse, I would certainly recommend it.
Military Prosecutor Doberman on Wikipedia and MyDramaList
